As my post last night revealed, I am beyond disgusted and furious with all concerned in the DADT debacle from Barack "Liar-in-Chief" Obama and his utterly f*cked up handling of the timing of this initiative - he should have acted last year - to duplicitous Senators who play political games with the lives of citizens. Then, of course, there is the utter incompetence of some of the self-styled leaders of the LGBT rights movement who need to collectively fall on their swords for their abysmal advocacy on LGBT issues across the board, and not just in respect to DADT repeal. Those left utterly savaged are LGBT service members who will face continued religious based discrimination - that should be inherently illegal under the U.S. Constitution - and LGBT Americans living in states that afford no employment non-discrimination protections to their LGBT citizens. I'm not alone in my disgust and fury. David Mixner has vented and I subscribe to his thoughts - especially adding DADT to the tax cut "compromise" legislation. Here are some highlights:*
The failure of the United States Senate to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" yet again is an American tragedy. Yesterday, our elected officials continued their path of shame on this issue by failing to join the rest of the civilized world in allowing members of the LGBT community to serve their country honorably. What a disgrace. Despite efforts to make this vote about procedures and politics, every one of us know this vote was about freedom and justice. Most importantly it was about the right of every American citizen to serve their country with honor and dignity.
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Absolutely pay no attention to those who talk about procedures and the need for more debate. That is just total nonsense and doesn't hold up no matter how you examine it. These senators have had nearly 18 years and over 14,000 discharges to figure out this policy. They have had their impact study. The Pentagon has signed off in favor of changing this policy. . . . Those who hold up the smoke screen of procedures are hiding behind a cloud of politics are simply cowards or homophobic - or both.
Absolutely pay no attention to those who talk about procedures and the need for more debate. That is just total nonsense and doesn't hold up no matter how you examine it. These senators have had nearly 18 years and over 14,000 discharges to figure out this policy. They have had their impact study. The Pentagon has signed off in favor of changing this policy. . . . Those who hold up the smoke screen of procedures are hiding behind a cloud of politics are simply cowards or homophobic - or both.
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First the White House with support of our national organizations have made a horrible strategic mistake in not voting on this issue in the first year of the Presidency. They should be held accountable in some form. We would have not had Senator Kirk (R-Ill), Senator Manchin (D-WVa) or Senator Brown (R-Mass) voting "no" because all those votes would have been "yes" from the previous senators who held those seats. Those votes would have been Bryd (D-WVa), Burris (D-Illinois) and either Kennedy/Kirk (Democrats from Massachusetts). That would have given us sixty and maybe even an extra vote or so.
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[T]here should be a special place in hell for Senator Brown of Massachusetts and Senator Olympia Snowe of Maine. Both represent states that are overwhelmingly for repeal of DADT. The LGBT community and our allies should throw everything we have to defeat them in the next election.
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Why don't we add it [DADT] as an amendment to the President's compromise keeping the Bush Tax Cuts and let us filibuster until it is added and passed! Let the Republicans explain to the CEO's why their hatred of the LGBT community is holding up their tax breaks. Let's give them hell. Let's fight back and not roll over one more time and take another blow to our dignity and honor.
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